HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today issued the following statement in response to the letter from Pope Francis to Catholics around the world, addressing sex abuse in the Church everywhere, and which also focused on the grand jury’s report on child sex abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.
“Pope Francis’ powerful letter acknowledges the painful truth that had been hiding in the shadows in Churches throughout Pennsylvania and appropriately focuses on the survivors who have suffered for too long,” Attorney General Shapiro said.
“The Pope has long been a fighter for the defenseless. As he notes in his letter, actions and sanctions to protect children and hold abusers and those who cover up abuse accountable have been “delayed.”
“It is my hope that, following the Holy Father’s words and teachings, Church leaders in Pennsylvania will cease their denials and deflections and now fully support the Grand Jury’s recommendations so that survivors have the opportunity to obtain justice and ensure this type of widespread abuse and cover up never happens again,” Shapiro said.
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